Castell, William

Estimate

8,000 - 12,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

A Short Discoverie of the Coasts and Continent of America, from the Equinoctiall Northward, and of the adjacent Isles. London: 1644.
paper, ink, leather

4to (173 x 137 mm). A few leaves shaved just touching text or page numerals. Modern gilt-ruled red morocco.

Literature

Wing CI 231; Sabin 11398

Catalogue Note

first edition. "Castell had a very good idea of the topography of New Netherland, which he had doubtless acquired from Dutch maps; but his conception of distances and latitude were very indefinite. Separate chapters were given to New England, New Netherland, Virginia, Florida, Cuba, Nova Francia, etc. Of New Netherland he says [on pages 21–22] that it 'difíreth not much from New England, only I must in these foure things give it the precedency, that the land in generall is richer, the fields more fragrant with flowers, the timber longer, and therefore more fit for building and shipping, the woods fuller of Bevors, and the waters of Salmon and Sturgeon.' (G. W. Cole, A Catalogue of Books relating to the Discovery and Early History of North and South America forming a part of the Library of E. D. Church, 5 volumes, New York, 1907).

Rare. The last copy at auction is the present copy, sold in our London rooms in 1991.